Hybrid Police
Cars Help Fulfill PlaNYC Goal of Reducing City Energy Use and Emissions from
City Operations by 30 percent by 2017

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today
deployed 40 Nissan Altima Hybrids as the first alternative fuel vehicles to be
used as marked and unmarked patrol cars in the Police Department’s fleet. The
Altima Hybrids have been assigned to areas of the city where their fuel
efficiency presents the greatest economic and environmental benefit – both in
precincts with a large coverage area and smaller precincts prone to heavy
stop-and-go traffic. The 40 hybrid vehicles, 18 marked and 22 unmarked, will be
used in patrol precincts and other units in all five boroughs. The hybrid
Altimas are partially funded by the intra-agency Energy Conservation Steering
Committee, created by Executive Order signed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2007 and
chaired by Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward Skyler.

“These new patrol cars will help fulfill the PlaNYC goal of reducing City
government’s carbon footprint,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Through savings in fuel,
these Altimas can quickly cover their additional cost, from then they will save
taxpayers money – another example of how going green is good for our environment
and our pocketbooks.”

“The NYPD embraces innovation when
it doesn’t compromise performance or safety to our personnel and the public,”
said Commissioner Kelly. “We want to get the most mileage out of technology
where it makes sense – with the addition of these hybrids, we’re doing that
literally.”

While the Altima hybrids are the
first alternate fuel vehicles to be used as regular police cars, the NYPD
already uses hybrid vehicles in it’s parking enforcement fleet as well as
electric scooters. The Police Department also has 10 GMC Yukon Hybrid SUVs
employed by NYPD Duty Captains for marked patrol. Additionally, police officers
utilize T-3 personal movers in city parks, stadiums and beaches. The Nissan
Altima Hybrids account for 40 of over 100 total hybrid vehicles the Department
is expected to deploy this year.

The Nissan Altima
Hybrids were acquired earlier this year following evaluation and testing by the
Police Department’s Fleet Services Division and Driver Training Unit. At $25,391
per vehicle, the Altima hybrids cost about $1,500 more than the conventional
Impala. At 35 miles per gallon for city driving, the hybrid Altima gets double
the gas mileage of the Impala, which gets only 17 miles per gallon. The Altima
hybrids, manufactured in Smyrna, Tennessee and outfitted with equipment
specialized for patrol, will be used in addition to the Chevrolet Impala and the
Ford Crown Victoria. The Department also uses Dodge Chargers, mainly for highway
patrol. As with all hybrid technology vehicles, the Altima switches between
gasoline engine and electric motor. After a year of monitoring the vehicles
performance the Department will determine whether to further expand them into
the fleet. The Nissan Altima Hybrids will bring to over 170 the total number of
hybrid vehicles the Department is expected to deploy this
year.

In July 2008, Mayor Bloomberg put forth a long-term action plan to
achieve the PlaNYC goal of reducing
energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the City’s municipal
buildings and operations by 30 percent by 2017. The long-term plan, available on
nyc.gov, is a comprehensive guide to reducing the City’s carbon footprint,
through making City buildings more efficient, improving preventative
maintenance, capturing energy potential at wastewater treatment plants, and
more. To meet its 30 percent reduction goal by 2017, the City must produce 1.68
million fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) annually compared
with 2006 levels. This will be achieved through an aggressive capital
improvement program for the City's facilities, and significant enhancements to
its current operations and maintenance practices. The projects in the long-term
plan, including the purchase of some of the Nissan Altima hybrids, will be
partially funded by an annual commitment of 10 percent of the City's energy
budget, which in fiscal year 2009 is $100 million. City government accounts for
approximately 6.5 percent of New York
City's total energy usage and 10 percent of its peak
electricity demand.